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Archives for December 2022

December 30, 2022 By Urvi Gohil Leave a Comment

Healthy Eating: Dates and Walnut Cake

Dates and Walnut Cake

It’s the season to be jolly and nothing is jollier than a freshly baked homemade cake! As we slowly step towards the New Year, it would be awesome to end 2022 on a healthy note. So let’s bake our own healthy and delicious eggless Dates and Walnut Cake! It’s a dense, rich cake which provides you with healthy fats and nutrition.

This is a recipe we’re sure your family will enjoy!

What You Will Need

  • Dates – 1 cup
  • Milk – 1 cup
  • Whole Wheat Flour – 1.5 cup
  • Roughly Chopped Walnuts – ½ cup
  • Coffee – ½ tsp
  • Cinnamon Powder – ½ tsp
  • Olive Oil – 100 ml
  • Baking powder – ½ tsp
  • Baking soda – 1 tsp
  • Salt – ½ tsp

How to Prepare 

  1. Soak coffee in a little water.
  2. Soak Dates in hot milk for 2-3 hours until they soften. Then grind the dates + milk into a fine paste in a mixer.
  3. Take the date paste out in a mixing bowl and add olive oil to it.
  4. Sieve the whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, coffee, cinnamon powder & salt and mix well with the dates puree using whisker.
  5. Now, add the chopped walnuts in the batter and gently fold them within. The cake batter is ready for further process.

From here on, there are two ways you can go. One with a Steamer and the other with an Oven.

a. Steamer

  1. Add a cup of salt in an idli steamer and place a plate or vessel in it and close the steamer.
  2. Preheat the steamer for 10 minutes at high flame.
  3. Transfer the cake batter in a properly greased pan and keep it inside the steamer.
  4. Cook the cake in the steamer at low – medium flame for 30-35 mins.

b. Oven

  1. Preheat the oven for 10 min.
  2. Transfer the cake batter in a greased mould and bake it for 35 to 40 min at 180 degree Celsius.
  3. Your cake is ready! 

Highlights of the Dates and Walnut Cake

  • Definitely, a cake with no unhealthy fats, giving you the satiety of eating a dessert.
  • Dates make it nourishing for the guests as it is packed with a host of heart-healthy nutrients.
  • Most importantly, it is absolutely yummy! 

Before you begin preparing this wholesome dates and walnuts cake, check with your doctor for any allergies you might have. For more tasty and healthy recipes, check out Healthy Reads or ask your GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce 

December 28, 2022 By Jigna Sheth 1 Comment

6 Tips to Help You Form and Stick to Resolutions

form and stick to resolutions

How often do we wait till the end of the year to make “resolutions” and end up not sticking to them? If you were to review your year basis the resolutions you made at the start, how close are you to achieving that goal? Do you find it difficult to form and stick to resolutions? Well, don’t worry! That’s where we come in.

A lot of resolutions fail because they’re a tad bit unrealistic. A resolution may be wrong for one of three main reasons:

  • It’s a resolution created based on what someone else (or society) is telling you to change. 
  • It’s too vague.
  • You don’t have a realistic plan for achieving your resolution.

The key to form and stick to resolutions is planning a SMART one.

Points to Keep in Mind to Form & Stick to Resolutions

  1. Understanding Your Goals: At the end of the year, there is renewed optimism as there is high spirit among people to set new goals for the New Year. The achievable goals are those which are specific, measurable, relevant and time-bound (SMART). The first step to behavior change is to clearly understand what “it” is.
  2. Start Small: To do “something big or to do nothing” – this frame of mind rarely works when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. If you’ve never exercised before, it’s unlikely you will suddenly start working out for an hour every single day. Instead, start with small and attainable goals, such as going to the gym three days a week or short daily walks. Once this becomes a habit, you can tack-on larger goals.
  3. Make One Change at a Time: Setting multiple resolutions at a time will not give desired results, thus we should go at a steady pace.
  4. Make a Monetary Commitment: Financial incentives plays an important role to stick to the resolutions, either you get a reward for fulfilling your commitments or you pay from your own pocket for not following it and see others enjoying their rewards.
  5. Keep a Log: A daily activity log should be maintained and updated to track progress. This is one of the easiest and effective ways to make your resolutions stick. The more we monitor our performance, the more likely we are to achieving the goals.
  6. Have Patience: We must set realistic goals and realize that progress is never uni-directional. Some people see rapid gains in the beginning and hit resistance at a later stage. For others, initial progress may be painfully slow, but then they suddenly achieve rapid breakthroughs. Making lasting changes takes time. Thus patience is the “key to success”.

A Resolution is a promise a person makes. Regardless of what resolution you commit to, the goal is to improve life in the coming year. We hope the above suggestions help you form and stick to resolutions! To help you stay motivated and on track with the right guidance from certified experts, subscribe to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce 

December 19, 2022 By Dr. Naina Sudarshan 1 Comment

Ideal Weekly Workout Routine For Beginners

weekly workout routine for beginnersAs Health is among the top priority in our life, being healthy, immune to all types of infections, diseases and getting fit are the avenues for the same now. If you’re thinking about getting fit, and as we are drawing closer to the new year, don’t just take up a gym membership but work on consistency and have a plan. As per the American College of Sports Medicine recommendation, a healthy person needs at least 30 mins of exercise every day to maintain physical health, mental health, immunity, and prevent chronic diseases for all age groups. So, here’s an ideal weekly workout routine for beginners you can follow and stick to!

Get Motivated For Your Weekly Workout Routine 

Every day of the week may not go as we plan. But if we are determined to be fit, we can set aside some time for exercise every day. If you are a beginner, creating a workout schedule for every week would be a better choice than just having a vague idea about staying active every day. Find out a strong reason for yourself as to why you need to workout every day. This should be a reminder to maintain consistency in order to achieve your goal. 

Getting Started On Your Weekly Workout Routine 

Beginning a workout can be confusing and intimidating as to where and how to start. Once you find out the ideal time, duration, and location for you to exercise, think about the obstacles that can come your way. Slot a backup time to avoid missing the workout. For example, if you set a goal to walk for 30 mins, completing about 5-6k steps, and that doesn’t happen due to some unplanned situations, walk more at work, take the steps instead of the elevator, walk while you talk over the phone just to complete the intended number of steps for the day. Here are some points to remember before you begin: 

  1. Start with short duration but be consistent (It can be 15-20 mins workout rather than an hour of workout at a stretch in a day) and make sure to plan your workout for at least 5 days in a week with short term specific, measurable goal.
  2. Keep a track of how your energy levels are getting better and what other benefits you are getting out of exercise like improved quality of sleep, reduced stress, and increased appetite instead of just keeping a track of numbers on your weighing scale or inch loss.
  3. Plan your workout according to your entire week’s schedule taking into consideration your work, personal life and family time, etc.
  4. Choose different types of workouts that you are interested in and you are comfortable doing. Make a list of physical activities that you enjoy. It can be dance, running, walking, sports like football, badminton, tennis, volleyball, basketball, cricket, weight training, or yoga

Week 1

weekly workout routine for beginnersDay 1: Cardio exercises

  • Start with 5 minutes warm-up exercises at a slow to moderate pace to slowly increase the heart rate 
  • Switch to 20 mins of cardio exercise. It can include aerobic exercises, brisk walk, interval running outside, cycling, stationary bike, swimming, Zumba or any type of dance, or any type of sport. Pay attention to your energy level and breath. You should ideally be able to talk without going out of breath while exercising to know your comfortability. People who want to do running can begin with 1 min of running and 3 mins of walking initially. 
  • Stretch for 5 mins to cool down to gradually bring down the heart rate back to normal 

Day 2: Strength training

  • Warm-up exercises for 5 Minutes 
  • Easy Strength training exercises for 25 mins: As a beginner, it’s better, to begin with, bodyweight training initially. Some of the exercises that come under this can be jumping jacks, push-ups, squats, lunges, burpees, mountain climbers, shoulder bridge, crunches, planks and reverse lunges with just one set each and about 10 repetitions each. There can be 10 seconds of rest in between each set. 
  • Cooldown workout for 5 mins

Day 3: Yoga/Dance

  • Warm-up with 5 Surya namaskars/ jumping jacks
  • Easy Standing and sitting Yoga postures or Dance of your choice for 25 mins. It’s always better to learn yoga postures through a trainer to learn about breathing patterns and the correct postures.
  • Cooldown workout for 5 mins  

Day 4: Strength training

  • Warm-up exercises for 5 Minutes 
  • Easy Strength training exercises for 25 mins. This can be repeated the same as day 2.
  • Cooldown workout for 5 mins 

Day 5: Cardio exercises

  • Warm-up exercises for 5 Minutes 
  • Easy Cardio exercise for 25 mins. This can be repeated the same as day 1. 
  • Cooldown workout for 5 mins 

Day 6: Strength training

  • Warm-up exercises for 5 Minutes 
  • Easy Strength training exercises for 25 mins. This can be repeated the same as day 2
  • Cooldown workout for 5 mins

Day 7: Rest day 

Active rest, which means low-intensity exercise like stretching and casual walking, are suggested on this day to stay active, increase the blood flow to the muscles for good healing, and reduce soreness. 

Week 2

workout The routine of week 1 can be repeated on week 2 as well. People who are training for running can increase the duration of running to 3 mins of running and 1 min of walk.

  • Day 1: Cardio exercise for 25 mins with warm-up and cool down 
  • Day 2: Strength training exercise for 25 mins (15 reps of 1 set each) with warm-up and cool down
  • Day 3: Yoga, Pilates, dance, or stretching for 25 mins with warm-up and cool down
  • Day 4: Strength training exercises for 25 mins (15 reps of 1 set each)  with warm-up and cool down
  • Day 5: Cardio exercise for 25 mins with warm-up and cool down
  • Day 6: Strength training exercise for 25 mins (15 reps of 1 set each)  with warm-up and cool down
  • Day 7: Rest day

Week 3 and Week 4

kettlebellRepeat the same routine for week 3 while increasing the duration, speed, and intensity of the workout this week. Small changes can be made with your workout to keep it interesting. For strength training, 2 sets can be done with 12 repetitions. If you feel this routine is easy one can also try other workouts like HIIT, kettlebell, resistance band workout, and weight training depending on their energy level and comfortability. This can include exercises that involve different muscle groups of the body like shoulder, arms, chest, abdomen, back, hips, glutes, thigh, and legs. 

These workouts have to be done again with the combination of cardio workouts on alternate days with one day as a Rest day. People who are running can switch to 4 mins running and 1 min walking, if they are comfortable. The idea here is to gradually increase the intensity of the workout so that the body is getting adjusted to the workouts easily without any injuries and exhaustion. 

  • Day 1: Cardio exercise for 25 mins with warm-up and cool down 
  • Day 2: Strength training exercise for 25 mins (15 reps of 2 set each) with warm-up and cool down
  • Day 3: Yoga, Pilates, dance, or stretching for 25 mins with warm-up and cool down
  • Day 4: Strength training exercise/HIIT for 25 mins (15 reps of 2 set each)  with warm-up and cool down
  • Day 5: Cardio exercise for 25 mins with warm-up and cool down
  • Day 6: Strength training exercise  for 25 mins (15 reps of 2 set each)  with warm-up and cool down
  • Day 7: Rest day

Proper warm-up and cool-down exercises are critical here to prevent injuries and for better healing. Muscle soreness can be common during the first week of exercise. But don’t give up. You will slowly get over it as you continue the workouts. 

One needs to pay attention to their diet with good protein, complex carbs, and fibers. Not to forget good hydration and quality sleep. If you have any health conditions like heart problems, diabetes, back pain, neck pain, knee pain, vertigo, arthritis, post-COVID or balance-related issues, get the clearance from your doctor. Certain types of exercises can be contraindicated in some of the conditions. It’s always ideal to have a personal coach or fitness trainer to learn how to go about a proper exercise routine, balanced diet, and healthy lifestyle tailored for your health condition and body type. 

For any additional help on getting started from the comfort of your home, you can sign up for our live, interactive GOQii Pro Classes where our fitness experts will guide and motivate you. You can book a class now from the GOQii App. 

Hope this weekly workout routine for beginners helps you. Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below!  

#BeTheForce 

December 18, 2022 By Payal Choudhury 4 Comments

Enter The Dragon Fruit: Uses & Nutritional Benefits

Dragon Fruit BenefitsThe Dragon Fruit is probably one of the most visually stunning fruits. Its skin looks like that of a mythical pink dragon. Did you know that it is actually harvested from a night-blooming cactus? A plant with a flower like an explosion of flame produces a beautiful fruit which is short-lived with the appearance of a brilliant pink rosebud. The phyto-nutrient dense fruit also known as “Pitaya” is grown in the tropical regions of Thailand, Vietnam, and South America. Its succulent stem provides the uniquely delicious fruit with moisture in the arid climates where it grows.

Multiple Uses of Dragon Fruit

It is important as a fruit as well as ornamental plant. Ripen fruits can be used directly to consume. Also it can be used for producing jam, ice cream, jelly, fruit juice as well as wine. Dragon fruit buds can be prepared as a curry. This tropical super fruit has a wonderful sweet flavour and unusual nutritional benefits including omega 3, protein, iron, fibre, vitamins, and minerals for hydrating all the cells in the body.

In addition to its nutritional value and health promoting effects, the dragon fruit is praised for its appetizing crunchy texture and refreshing, sweet flavour which is like a cross between kiwi and pear. To preserve most of its flavour and nutrients, the dragon fruit is usually eaten raw as a healthy snack or it is pureed into smoothies.

Nutritional Benefits

The nutritional value per 100g of Ripen Dragon fruit is as follows

Nutrition Amount
Water 82.5- 83 g
Protein 0.159- 0.229 g
Carbohydrates 8g
Sugar 9g
Fat 0.21- 0.61 g
Fibre 0.7- 0.9 g
Carotene 0.005- 0.012 mg
Calcium 6.3- 8.8 mg
Phosphorus 30.2- 36.1 mg
Iron 0.55- 0.65 mg
Vitamin B 1 0.28- 0.043 mg
Vitamin B 2 0.043- 0.045 mg
Vitamin B 3 0.297- 0.43 mg
Vitamin C 8.0- 9.0 mg
Thiamine 0.28- 0.30 mg
Riboflavin 0.043- 0.044 mg
Niacin 1.297- 1.30 mg
Ash 0.28 g
Other 0.54- 0.68 g

Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit

  1. The Dragon Fruit is high in polyunsaturated fats (omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids) that lower the risk of cardiovascular disorders. Its rich in flavonoids that are known to have favourable effects against cardio related disease
  2. It is low in calories and contains vitamin C, magnesium, protein, antioxidants and iron.
  3. The reddish colour of the Dragon Fruit is due to lycopene – which has anti-cancer properties.
  4. It clears the body of toxic heavy metals and improves eyesight. Better eye-sight to take in its exquisiteness and majestic beauty.
  5. For Type 2 Diabetics, it is recommended to eat dragon fruit frequently because of its fiber content that helps manage blood sugar.
  6. Because of the richness in fiber, it aids in better digestion of food as well.
  7. The benefits of Dragon Fruit is realized in a number of ways, from a strengthened immune system and faster healing of bruises and wounds to fewer respiratory problems.
  8. They have zero complex carbohydrates, so foods can be easily broken down in the body, helped by vitamin B1 (thiamine) and other B vitamins.

Dragon fruit has a very mild flavour. It blends well with mild flavoured fruits such as bananas, mangoes or papayas. Coconut also complements the flavour of dragon fruit nicely.

It could easily be called a “crazy” fruit, as its appearance is so improbable. The dragon fruit is an exotic fruit that is very beautiful on the outside and comes with a lot of health benefits. It may be intimidating to try because of its outer shape and texture but, it is very easy to prepare and comes with a number of nutritional benefits that your body will love you for.

Try it out and you might like it, maybe make it a part of your regular fruit rotation. Do let us know your experience with this delicious fruit in the comments below!

For more on nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or speak to an expert by subscribing for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce

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